 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jan
Date: 2001-06-06 14:42
im just curious how others feel about this........
im in a wind ensemble where i play first part. this coming semester i will be first chair too for the first time ever. i do quite well with this group.
im also in a clarinet choir of 8 ppl. i play 3rd part. i do ok when i practice my part at home, but when i get with the rest of the group i have a really hard time. im always getting lost. im pretty much the worst one in the group. i wish the problem was that i needed to practice harder but im doing as much as i can to beable to 'get it ' ..............
so, i am just wondering for those of you who play in both wind ensemble and a choir which one you think is harder, and if anyone has any suggestions how i can play better within the group.
thanks
jan
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Author: William
Date: 2001-06-06 16:48
I don't particularly like clarinet choirs, therefore playing in one is "harder" for me (psycologically) than in any other kind of ensemble I play with. And, IMHO, it is somewhat more difficult to play 2nd and 3d parts than it is to play 1st because you often must be more independent rhythmically and harmoically of the melody which is typically played by the "lead" instruments. It is a misteak, therefore, for bands to always put all of their best players on the first part. I hve always believed that the best four clarinets in any group should be positioned: 1st--1 & 2, 2nd--3, and 3d--4. Everyone always thinks that the third clarinet part is the easiest to play--"It ain't necessarily so" and you have discovered that. For the record, my favorite ensemble of the selections you presented is the Wind Ensemble. Actually, I like Orchestras best. Good (third) Clarineting--"Just Do It!!!!!!!"
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Author: Blake
Date: 2001-06-06 17:16
The band I'm in rotates parts around between the 9 of us although each of us gets to play first on at least one of the harder pieces. Having played first parts most of my high school and college carreer it was rude awakening playing the 2nd and third part.. particularly switching piece to piece. The second part is the hardest i think with most of the parts in the clarion going back and forth over the break and the 3rd can be tricky if you havent done alot of work in your chalemeaux register for intonation etc. The hardest for me was playing the 2 and 3rd parts of sousa marches that i had always playe Eb or 1st Bb on.. it was as if i was sight reading again. I was once asked by a music prof. if i wanted to be the best clarinet in a band or the worst one.... naturally i thought the best.. but as he pointed out, if youre the worst, you try harder, you have people with more experience to mentor you and it is a more challenging experience and nothing to be ashamed of. I like the idea of the 2nd best clarinet as first chair 2nd and the 3rd best as first chair 3rd etc. It really would mix things up. and provide for a better balanced section. The down side of switching around all the time is that by having a first next to a second next to a 3rd can hurt over all intonation if youre not playing with others who are on the same part. We did move around into "sections" for some of the really tough pieces we played like the Dvorak finale from New World for band. Clarinet choirs have a unique character and I've never really compared the two. To me it sounds like a rich organ stop and has a fullness you dont get with a band. Blake Arlington, VA
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2001-06-06 23:52
jan--
I'm new to clarineting, but I've played percussion in a number of different types of groups for a number of years. As a percussionist, it's quite easy to get lost, either because you have a lot of rests between playing and you don't (at first) know what else is going on in the piece, or because you have a long section where you're essentially playing the same background rhythm, measure after measure after measure.
Perhaps that is the case in your clarinet choir. As one of the leads in the wind ensemble--with diverse sounding instruments--you have lots of cues and clues about where you are, but as one of the "support group" in the clarinet choir--where there is less variation in the voices, and more repetitiveness in your part--you have fewer ways to tell when or if you are off.
In other words, is it possible that you are not counting as well as you should and don't know the overall sound and "shape" of the pieces in the clarinet choir?
What I do on my percussion parts to help me keep track of where I am in relation to the rest of the group, is to number my measures in a way that makes sense for the piece of music. For example, much music, even modern music, is still written in eight bar phrases, sometimes in an AABA form. So I number my measures that way to help me keep my place--and find it again relatively soon if I get off. I also put in notes indicating obvious entrances of other instruments--admitedly easier when there is a mix of instruments. And, of course, as I rehearse more with the group, I can better hear where my part fits in, and can more easily stay with the group or get back with it if I get off.
Maybe this is too elementary an analysis and not at all your problem. You could also ask the leader or members of the group what they think. And maybe you're not doing as bad as you think.
Todd W
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Author: Azzacca
Date: 2001-06-07 01:24
As William said: "Everyone always thinks that the third clarinet part is the easiest to play--"It ain't necessarily so"" is absolutely correct! Has anyone ever played third clarinet on Marche Slave (for band, not orchestra)? It was a long time ago for me, but it seemed to be much harder than what I heard the 1st and 2nd clarinets playing!
But it seems, for you, getting the music down isn't the problem you're having, as you're fine at home. Sometimes hearing all the other music is throwing off what you're hearing in your head. Is it possible for you to record one of the choir sessions so that you can "play along" when you're practicing at home? That might get you used to hearing everyone else.
Just a thought on my part.
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